July 20, 2025

Sam Renner of Bend, Oregon, etched his name into the history books with a commanding 4 & 3 victory over Nilay Naik of Lake Oswego in Sunday’s 36-hole final at Sunriver Resort, capturing the 123rd Pacific Northwest Men’s Amateur Championship — and doing so for the second year in a row.

Renner, a rising star from Washington State University, became the first player in over 50 years to win back-to-back titles at the PNGA Men’s Amateur. The last player to accomplish the feat was PNGA Hall of Famer Jim McLean in 1971 and 1972. Since the tournament’s inception in 1899, only six players had previously repeated as champion, placing Renner in elite company alongside legends like Jack Westland, George Von Elm, and R.L. MacLeay.

The final match was never in doubt. Renner came out firing, winning the first hole and never trailing. His morning round included a torrid front nine — highlighted by a 30 — en route to a score of 62 for the first 18 holes. That gave him a 6-up lead over Naik heading into the afternoon session. Although Naik pushed back with wins on holes 21, 22, and 23, Renner maintained composure and closed out the match with a par on the 33rd hole (hole 15 of the afternoon round).

A Champion’s Path

Entering match play as the No. 22 seed, Renner put together a dominant run:

• Round of 64: def. Reid Piron, 4 & 3
• Round of 32: def. Jonathan Lai, 2 & 1
• Round of 16: def. Jeffrey Forster, 4 & 3
• Quarterfinal: def. Ashton McArthur, 5 & 4
• Semifinal: def. Taylor Lansford, 6 & 4
• Final: def. Nilay Naik, 4 & 3

As in 2024, Renner was again caddied by his mother, Molly, adding a heartfelt element to the historic win. Nilay Naik, whose mother Bindi served as his caddie, earned widespread praise for his steady and sportsmanlike play all week. A standout freshman at Pomona College, Naik will transfer to the University of Michigan this fall to continue his collegiate golf career.

Renner's Rise

Renner, who plays out of Awbrey Glen Golf Club, posted a breakout collegiate season for WSU, setting a school scoring average record of 70.67 and earning First Team All-WCC honors. With a repeat title at one of the nation’s most prestigious amateur championships, Renner has cemented himself as a name to watch at the national level.

“It means everything to do it here in Oregon again,” said Renner. “To win once is special. To do it twice, and with my mom on the bag again — it’s hard to put into words.”

Follow all live matches and full scoring details here: